New Guy, small farm operator... Many questions

[MossflowerWoods]

Hello,

I bought a 51 acre heavily forested homestead in Virginia just over a year ago. I am managing ~42 acres of mature Loblolly Pine & hardwood forest. I have ~5 acres of clearcut I need to convert to horse pasture, and I have ~4 acres of yard/ponds/misc that I am trying to tame and make useful.

I am new to this stuff (I've been a computer geek for 28+ years) ad I havbe many (likely stupid) questions.

Mossflower Woods is what we call out farm/ranch/home.

My Name is David.

 

[Muhammad]

Welcome to TBN.

 

[teg]

No harm in asking questions... Welcome to TBN! The more information you can give us, the easier it is to answer. Converting a cut over area to pasture takes time and lots of work.... OR money $$$$ (to bring in heavy equipment to do the job quick.) Which do you have more of?

What size stumps do you have? If they are pine and you have the time, you can let them rot out (you can do things to help them rot faster). If it's mainly hardwoods, most likely they are re-sprouting. How long ago was it clear cut? More question later...

 

[MossflowerWoods]

teg,

check the other thread, I tried to answer some of your questions...

Feel free to ask away. I'll try to answer.

I am also trying to maintain the "trails" that the loggers left when they "thinned" the other 42 acres of forest.

I have some ideas for using them for horse/mountain bike riding, recreation, hunting, etc...

 

[smstonypoint]

David,

In case you haven't already done so, I would advise that you contact the local office of the Virginia Department of Forestry. They will provide a Forest Stewardship Plan for your timber. It looks like Virginia charges a nominal fee for that service ($1.50/acre), but it will be well worth it: Forest Stewardship | Virginia Department of Forestry.

I don't know about property tax use-assessment in Virginia, but you may required to have a stewardship/management plan to qualify for lower property taxes associated with forestry use. You may be able to qualify for cost-sharing assistance.


Good luck.

Steve

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Steve,

Been there, done that. I have my forester on my cell phone and email, and we have talked a number of times. Yes, I am getting a tax break for having managed timber acreage.

I'm learning fast... still got a long way to go.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

My first thread and my first post. Ah memories...

I've learned an amazing amount since last August when I found this place but mostly I've learned I still have a ton more I need to learn.

Thanks to all of you TBN folks for the education :thumbsup:

Be well,
David

 

[teg]

So how do you feel about the information that you got? Did you buy the right tractor for yourself? Would you do anything differently, knowing what you know now?

PS. I need to go back and look at my first post...

 

[MossflowerWoods]

So how do you feel about the information that you got? Did you buy the right tractor for yourself? Would you do anything differently, knowing what you know now?

PS. I need to go back and look at my first post...

TEG!

You were my first responder too! :laughing:

Good to see you!

Honestly, I love TBN. This is a great community and y'all are keeping me sane most days.

As to the advice, Yes, I bought the right tractor. Yes I'm made many mistakes and there are some minor ones I might redo, but for the most part I've done OK.

The caliber of the advice here runs the full spectrum. There are a few inane responses, people who did not read the full post etc. but the vast majority seem to actually be shaing their experiences and wisdom.

Now I don't always like what I hear... I'm struggling with the idea of making my own hay and dashing off to Ohio for BuckTakers stuff. But clearly it is hard work, and I'm already too busy, and I'd hate to fail... So I'm soul searching over it and still undecided.

But I love the folks here on TBN, and I love the education I'm getting.

Be well,
David

 

[flusher]

TEG!

You were my first responder too! :laughing:

Good to see you!

Honestly, I love TBN. This is a great community and y'all are keeping me sane most days.

As to the advice, Yes, I bought the right tractor. Yes I'm made many mistakes and there are some minor ones I might redo, but for the most part I've done OK.

The caliber of the advice here runs the full spectrum. There are a few inane responses, people who did not read the full post etc. but the vast majority seem to actually be shaing their experiences and wisdom.

Now I don't always like what I hear... I'm struggling with the idea of making my own hay and dashing off to Ohio for BuckTakers stuff. But clearly it is hard work, and I'm already too busy, and I'd hate to fail... So I'm soul searching over it and still undecided.

But I love the folks here on TBN, and I love the education I'm getting.

Be well,
David

Glad to hear your good words about TBN--always educational and entertaining to follow interesting threads.

Has your haying fever subsided or are you pressing ahead into the deep water?